Disintegrating and conveying machine



Dec. 10, 1929. K. DAVIS GRATING AND CONVEYING MACHINE xDISINTE Filed Mayl2, 1923 6 Sheets-Sheet QE. b3

IN V EN TOR Dec. l0, 1929. K. DAVIS DISINTEGRATING AND CONVEYING MACHINEFiled May l2, 1923 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 A TTORNEY lDec. 10, 1929. K. DAVIS1,739,215

DISINTEGRATING AND CONVEYING MACHINE Filed May 12, 1923 6 Sheets-Sheet 5Dec. l0, 1929. A K DAVlS 1,739,215

DISINTEGRATING AND CONVEYING MACHINE Filed May l2, 1923 6Shee'cs-Shee'fl 4 I Kham-.

A TTORNE Y Dec. l0, 1929. K. DAvls 1,739,215

. DISINTEGRATING AND CONVEYING MACHINE Filed May 12, 1923 l 6sheets-sheet 5 Dea 1o, 1929. K. DAVIS 1,739,215

' DISINTEGRATING AND CONVEYING MACHINE Filed May 12, 1923 6 Sheets-Sheet6 IN VEN TOR Patented Dec. 10, 1929 UNITED STATESY PATENT OFFICE KENNETHDAVIS, OF ST. `BENEDICT, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO REMBRANDT PEALE,RICHARD PEALE, AND REMBRANDT PEALE, JUNIOR, TRUSTEES DISINTEGRATING ANDCONVEYING MACHINE Application led May 12, 1923.

The invention relates to machines for handling loose materials and moreespecially to a novel and highly eiicient automotive, dirigible machinefor disintegrating a mass -of material and thereafter conveying away thedisintegrated and dislodged material, although the machine will operateequally well on piled loose material.

Objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in parthereinafter and in part will be obvious herefrom, or may be learned bypractice with the invention, the

same being realized and attained by means of the instrumentalities andcombinations pointed out in the appended claims.

The invention consists in the novel parts, constructions, arrangements,combinations and improvements herein shown and described.

The accompanying drawings, referred to herein and constituting a parthereof, illustrate one embodiment of the invention, and together withthe description, serve to eX- plain the principles of the invention.

Of the drawings:

Fig. l is a top plan of a machine embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of the machine of Fig. l; Y

Fig. 3 is a central transverse vertical section taken substantially onthe line 3 3 of Fig. l;

Fig. 4 is a transverse longitudinal section taken substantially on theline 4 4 of Fig. l;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional detail of the reversibledriving mechanism for the traction mea-ns which also constitute thesteering mechanism;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical section through the drive forthe disintegrating and conveying mechanism, taken substantially on line6 6 of Fig. l; y

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary elevation, with parts in section, of one of thedisintegrating and conveying arms; Y

Fig. 8 is an elevation showing the machine operated by a distant controlmechanism;

Fig. 9 is a top plan, partly diagrammatic, of the disintegrating andconveying machine cooperating with a conveying chute;

Serial No. 638,486.

bodying the invention, in its broader or gen-Y eral features comprises aframe carrying a motor which drives both the automotive mechanism of themachine and also the material handling mechanism thereof. The automotivemechanism comprises two traction wheels, one at either side of themachine.

The steering or directing and manoeuvering of the machine is effected bycontrolling the action of the motor through the driving connections onthe two traction wheels, whereby both wheels may be driven forwardlytogether, or backwardly together, or one may be driven forwardly and theother backwardly simultaneously therewith, or either wheel may be drivenin either direction while the other is at rest.

The controls for the driving connections for eilecting the differentmovements and relations of movements just described are preferablycontrolled from a distant station, so that the attendant need notnecessarily follow the machine, but may remain at one station or placewhile the machine travels with the work under his guidance. This iseffected by a plurality of solenoid-operated clutches in the drivingconnections between the motor and the traction wheels.

The material disintegrating and conveying mechanism comprises aplurality of material disintegrating and conveying arms, claws, ordevices traveling across the front of the machine and engaging anddisintegrating a mass of material in front of the inachine and conveyingit across and to one side of the machine. At the same time these devicesparticipate in the forward travel of the machine, and thus progressivelydisintegrate and convey away a mass of materials into which the machineis traveling, the rate of advance of the machine being proportioned, orregulated to the rate of disintegration and conveyance of thedisintegrated material by the machine. I

The disintegr'ating and conveying arms are mounted on and are driven byan endless chain, which in turn is driven from the motor. The materialin this embodiment is conveyed across the machine and delivered at oneend thereof. In the preferred form of the machine, the disintegratingand conveying arms do not sweep or travel along the floor, but aplatform is employed therebeneath. The platform preferably extendsacross and in front of the machine and slopes downwardly and forwardlywith the front edge on, or just clearing, the floor. The disintegratingarms rest upon and sweep across the platform, and the front ends of thearms extend beyondV the platform so as to engage with and disintegratethe material in front of the machine. In this` case the material isdelivered from the platform at the side of the machine.

Cooperating with the machine is a type or Structure of automaticconveyor adapted to receive the conveyed material from they travelingdisintegrating and conveying machine at all points or places along itstravel, without the intervention between the machine and conveyor ofmanual handling or any other adventitious handling of the material.

As embodied, the invention is applied to the transportation, ordisintegration and conveyance, and other handling of coal ina mine room.An automatic trough or conduit conveyor extends from-theentrylongitudi-V nally of the room, almost to the room face, theconveyor being constructed in interchangeable unit sections so that itcanbeextended as theface of the room advances.

At the inner end of the room,l contiguous to and extending across theroom face, is an open-sided trough conveyor, havingalsoautomatically-operating, material conveying mechanism. Thedisintegrating and conveying machine travels across the room face,disintegrating a mass of shot-down coal and conveying it into the openside of the transverse conveyor continuously as the machine travelsacross the room face, disintegrating and removing all the materialbefore it and discharging it into the open-sided transverse conveyor,which in turn discharges it into the main conveyor, which discharges itinto the entry,

Other features of the invention will be first set forth in connectionwith the following detailed description, but it will be'understood thatthe foregoing general description and the following detailed descriptionare exemplary and explanatory but are not restrictive of the invention.

Referring now in detail to the embodiment of the invention illustratedby way of example in the accompanying drawings, and referring primarilyto the general structure of the machine, a platform or bed l is providedupon which a'll the mechanism is supported, and the forward part ofwhich serves also as a part of the mechanism for conveying away thedisintegrated material. The plate l is preferablyinclined downwardly andforwardly, with its front edge, extending substantially entirely acrossthe machine, in contact with the floor or substantially so, as bestappears from Fig. it. rllhev material disintegrating and conveying armstravel over andl across the forward endy of the plate l, asfwill n belater more fully described.

Supported on the plate or bed l is motor 2, which motor convenientlyserves to drive both the machine itselfp (with selective controls forthe traction means whereby the machine may be steered) and also thedisintegrating and conveying mechanism.

rllhe traction means, as shown7 consists of a pair of broad and heavywheels, although other forms of traction means may be utilized, such asendless tread traction belts. As embodied, a traction wheel 5 is locatedat one side of the ,machine and a similar traction wheel 6 at the otherside thereof. )Wheel 5 is loosely mountedonY a shaft (which is laterdescribed) which shaft is journaled in bearings 7 and 8 formed,respectively, on pillars or brackets 9 and l0, carried upon the baseplate l of the machine. Likewise, tractio=. wheel 6 is loosely mountedon a shaft l which shaft is fixedly carried in bearings l and 12,formed, respectively, in brackets le and lll mounted on the base plateof the machine. The traction wheels may be provided with calks 16. A

Referring now to the driving means for the two traction wheels, saidmeans in the present embodiment comprise driving sprocket wheels,engaging with the traction wheels, and selectively disconnectable andreversi driving connections between the motor and sprocket wheels.AThereby the wheels may be driven simultaneously in either direction, ormay be driven independently of each other in either direction, or eitherwheel may be driven in either direction while the other is at rest.

As' embodied (Figs. 1 to 5) fixed on one end of the motor shaft 20 is aworm 2l, meshing with a worm wheel 22, which is fixed on a shaft 23.Shaft 23 is journaled in a long, divided and bifurcated bearing 2e, theshaft 23 extending both forwardly and rearwardly from the worm wheel 22,which is located in the central opening in bearing 24:y 1l).

ice

At its forward end, shaft 23 is provided with a worm 26, which mesheswith a worm wheel 27. Worm wneel 27 (see especially Fig. 5), ismountedloosely upon the end of a shaft 28, and is held in place bycollars 18 and 19. Referring now to the driving connections from wormwheel 27 to traction wheel 6, shaft 28 is journaled in a. bearing 29,preferably provided with a sleeve 30. Fixed on the other eid ofshaft 28is a sprocket wheel 31, which meshes with sprocket teeth or holes 32,formed in the periphery of the traction wheel 6.

A. clutch jaw 33 (Figs. 1 and 5) is formed onthe hub of the worm wheel27, and a cooperating clutch jaw 34 is splined on shaft 28 to vrotatetherewith, while being slidable therealong. Clutch jaw 34 is providedwith an annular peripheral groove 35 into which project pins 36 and 37,which pins are carried by a yoked bell-crank lever 38, pivotallsupported at 39. At its opposite end 40, the

bell-crank lever is pivotally connected to the core of a solenoid 41,mounted upon the machine frame. While all the clutches are shown asbeing solenoid operated, for distant control itwill be understood thatthey may all be manually operated, if desired.

In the drive from the worm wheel 27 to the traction wheel 5, asembodied, (Figs. l, 4 and a shaft50 is journaled in a bearing 51, nearthe worm wheel, and also in a bearing' 52, at the other end thereof. Theshaft- 50 is centrally socketed to receive the reduced lnd 53 of theconcentric shaft 28, previously described. A clutch aw 54 is formed onthis ide of the worm wheel 27. Cooperating therewith is a clutch jaw 55,which is splined on the end of-shaft 50 to rotate therewith while beingslidable therealong. Pins 56 and 57 are mounted in a yoked lever 59 andproect into an annular peripheral groove 58 ormed in the clutch aw55.Lever 59 is pivoted at 69 on the machine frame, and is pivotallyconnected at 61 to a solenoid 62 mount-- ed on the machineframe. Y

Fixed to the opposite end of shaft 50 is a sprocket Wheel 63, meshingwith sprocket teeth or holes 64, which are formed in the periphery ofthe traction wheel 5. The foregoing mechanism, by the control of thesolenoids 41 and 62 vwill drive both the wheels 5 and 6 together in onedirection, or will drive either wheel in one direction independently ofthe other wheel, that is, irrespective of whether the other wheel is atrest or is being driven in the opposite direction.

Referring now to the mechanism for driving the traction wheels 5 and 6in the opposite direction, a worm 70 is formed on the rear end of theshaft 23, the worm meshing with a worm wheel 71. Worm wheel 71 ismounted in the same manner, and is connected to the same kind ofmechanism, as is shown in Fig. 5, and has already been described inconnection with the traction drive at the front of the machine. A clutchjaw 72, formed on one side -of worm wheel 71, cooperates with a clutchjaw 73, which is mounted on the shaft 74, to rotate therewith but isslidable therealong. Shaft 74 is jeun naled in a bearing 75, and hasfixed to the other end thereof a sprocket wheel 76, which meshes withthe sprocket holes 32 in the traction wheel 6. Clutch member 73 islikewise shown as solenoid cont-rolled, and a yoked lever 79 has pinswhich engage in the peripheral grooves 78 in the clutch member. Lever 79is pivotally mounted at 80, and is pivotally connected at 81 to the coreof a solenoid 82.

On its opposite side, the worm wheel has integral therewith a clutch jaw88, cooperating with a movable clutch j aw 89. Clutch jaw'89 is mountedupon a shaft 9() to rotate therewith, and is slidable therealong intoand out of engagement with clutch jaw 88. Shaft is journaled at 91 and92 on the machine frame, and may be constructed and connected with themechanism just described substantially in the same manner as the shaft50, and as more particularly shown in Fig. 5. Clutch member 89 is alsosolenoid controlled, a lever 94 having pins engaging with the peripheralannular groove 95 in the clutch member. This lever is pivotallysupported at 96, and at 97 is pivotally connected to the core of a.solenoid 98. There is fixed to shaft 90 on its opposite end a sprocketwheel 99, meshing with the sprocket holes 64 in the traction wheel 5.

Thus in similar manner the solenoids 82 and 98`may be controlled so thatthe sprocket wheels 76 and 99 may be caused to drive the .tractionwheels 5 and 6 together in the opposite direction fr-om the sprocketwheels 31 and 63, or either of the sprocket wheels 5 and 6 can be drivenin said direction independently of the other. It will be clear that onetract-ion wheel can be driven in one direction and the other tractionwheel in the other direction and the machine may thus be turnedpivotally about an axis within the machine itself. In Fig. 8, a distantcontrol for the solenoids is shown which may be'the same as, orgenerally similar to, that shown in my co-pending patent applicationsSer. No. 445,701, filed February 17, 1921, patented November 24, 1925,No. 1,562,872; Serial No. 512,396, filed November 2, 1921; and SerialNo. 541,122, filed March 4, 1922.

The solenoids controlling the various mechanisms described have circuitconnections through a cable 99 and a self-winding and paying out cablemechanism 100 to circuit control device 101, such as is described in mysaid co-pending applications and need not be described here in det-ail.

Referring now in detail to the embodied form of the materialdistintegrating and con- Afall freely upon the platform 1, thence to beswept forward across the machine to the place of delivery by the arms114.

As embodied, the arms are carried on an endless chain 115, to which thearms are con* nected in any suitable manner. As shown, plates v116project from the chain and the arms 114 are pivoted to these plates,respectively, at 117. rlhe chain runsv in a guideway comprising a lippedbottom plate 118' and a like top plate 119 and a back spacing and supfporting block 120. The arms 114 have an 0H-A set shouldered end ridingupon the chain guide, and have a lateral projection or tail forcontrolling and moving the arm and for holding it in its operatingposition, as' later described.

The arms are adapted to move ai'i'tomatically to inoperative positionafter passing the point of delivery of the material, and to auto!inatically reassume operative posit-ion as they again approach the massof material ahead of the machine; that is, at the rightin Fig. 1. Asembodied, the arms 114 are pivoted, as' stated, at 117, on the chain115, each arm having its rear end or tail 127 angularly disposed andshaped to ride against a plate 128, which plate projects upwardly fromthe bed plate 1 and constitutes a positioning and guiding cam trackalong which thev rear end of the disintegrating and conveyingl armstravel. Plate 123 is also preferably continued up# ward as a back platehaving braces 133 against which the conveyed material is stopped andcompelled to travel with the arms to delivery.` A back plate 132 alsoserves a like purpose.

As the rear ends or tails 127 vof the arms strike and then ride upon theend of theplate 128, near the right hand end of the machine in Fig. 1,the arm is thereby swung auto`matically into, and is held in, theoperative position. By reason of the engagement of the rear end 127 ofthe arm with the track 128 until the armv has passed the deliveryposition (at the left hand end of 1),.the arm is maintained in positionto disintegrate and sweep the material before it along the front of theplatform 1. As the tail 127 of the arm leaves the plate 128 (near theleft hand end o'f Fig'. 1), the arm will rock backwardly and lieapproximately parallel to the direction of its travel until it againcomes to the forward end of the plate 128, all as shown in Fig. 1. I

The arms 114 are preferably somewhat curved forwardly and outwardly andare preferably provided at the forward end with a claw 130, adapted todig into the material to be disintegrated. The claws 130 are preferablydetachably held in the end of the respective arms by suitable means,suchas screws 131.

Referring now to the embodied form of driving means for thedisintegrating and conveying mechanism (Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 6) there isprovided on the left hand end of the shaft 2O of the motor 2 a 'coupling140, which connects the motor shaft to a shaft 141 (upon which shaft thetraction wheel 5 is loosely j ournaled with interposed sleeves 142 and143 as .alreadyV briefly mentioned). Fixed to the other end of shaft 141is a worm 144, meshing with the worm wheel 145, which is fixed on ashaft 146 which shaft is journaled in a bearing 147 on the machineframe.

Fixed'also on shaft 146is a worm 148,

which meshes with a worm wheel 149, which is fixed on the upper end ofVa vertically disposed shaft 150. Shaft 150 is journaled in a bearing151, carried on a bracket or pedestal 152, mounted on the machine frame.Fixed to the shaft 150, at the bottom end thereof, is a gear pinion 153,meshing with a gear wheel 154. Gear wheel 154V is-.iixedV on thebottomend of a vertically disposed shaft 156, which i is journaled in thepedestal 152. A sleeve 157 surrounds shaft 156 and has a flanged upperend resting on the top of pedestal 152, a nut 153 being preferablyscrew-threaded onto the top end of shaft 156 to hold it in position.Fixed to and concentric with gear wheel 154 is a sprocket wheel 155,which meshes with and drives the chain 115.

The disintegrating and conveying machine previously described isespecially capacitated or adapted to operate or cooperate with anautomatic conveyor, such as a trough conveyor having reciprocatingpusher blades, or equivalent elements, for conveying ythe loose materialalong the trough toward the place of delivery, the disintegrating andconveying machine traveling along anvopen side of the trough,disintegrating and dislodging the material and simultaneously sweepingor delivering the dislodged material into the trough in front of thepusher blades.

In accordance with one feature of the invention a reciprocating troughconveyor is provided especially adapted for working in a mine room inconnection with the disintegrating and conveying machine. As preferablyconstructed, such a conveyor` is either L-shaped or T-shaped, with the'base of the L having an lopen side, toward the face of the room, and theT-shaped conveyor having the cross bar or top thereof with an open sidetoward the face of the room, the main conveyor in either case extendingbackwardly toward the entry.

In the embodied form (referring now to Figs. 9 to 13), a trough conveyoris providedV having a bottom 170,'and upwardly and outwardly inclinedsides 171 and 172, the .trough and the entire conveying mechanism beingconstructed in interchangeable sectie s, whereby the conveyor can bekept, by t c essive addition of sections, in substar y uniform relationto the advancing face of the room. As a matter of convenience andpreference, the conveyor units will be o f a length substantially equalto the depth of the lerf cuts or undercuttings by which the room face issuccessively advanced, such a conveyor being and described and claimedin my copending application Ser. No. 352,928 filed January 21, 1920.

Vfithin the conveyor trough are a plurality of reciprocable andswingable pusher blades 173, which push the material before them as theyadvance, and swing upwardly and ride over the material as they return toget behind and push forwardly a fresh mass of the loose material withinthe conveyor. As embodied, the respective blades 173 are fixed to arms174 and 175, which are pivoted at 176 to a supporting lug or bracket177. The brackets 177 are fixed to a longitudinallydisposed,reciprocable bar 178, which connects the different pusher blades alongthe .onveyor.

The arms 174 and 175 preferably terminate in a backwardly-extending arm179, which is provided. at its outer end with an upwardly-extending,bifurcated projection 180, which projection straddles thedownwardlyprojecting part of the reciprocating bar 178. The bar 178preferably made of two angle irons, bolted together, the bifurcatedprojection 180 in such case straddling the downwardly-projectingcontacting parts of the angle bar, and acting thereagainst as a stop toposition the shovel during the forward material-pushing movementthereof.

Suitable guideways are provided, and in the embodied form, a pair ofplates 184 and L85, horizontally-disposed and longitudinally-extending,are spaced apartj by blocks L88 and are bolted together to 'afseries ofsupporting brackets or arches 187 by a bolt L89.V Brackets 187 in turnare bolted to bracing supports 188, which pass beneath and up eitherside of the conveyor trough at either end of each section thereof. Onthe opposite side there is a like construction, the plates 190 and 191having spacing-blocks 192, which are bolted together by bolts 193, whichlikewise pass through the bail or support 187. Supporting and guidingcross-pieces 195 are fastened to the bar or angle irons 178 and run inthe guideway just described. These are spaced well apart along the'topof the bar 17 8 to permit free running thereof without bindingwhilefurnishing adequate f support. Y

In Fig. 11 the juncture of. the interchange- Vable sections is shown,the reenforcing frames 1882L and 188"V being bolted both to a singlebracket or support 187 for the superposed guiding structure. Theguideways are also of unit .length and the abutting ends are bolzted to,and are supported by, the member 18 In Fig. 9 the conveyor is shown withthe forward end consisting of a transverse or auxiliary conveyor,substantially at right angles to the main conveyor, such transverseportions being substantially parallel to the room face a and beingspaced therefrom a little more than the depth of a kerf cut orundercutting. The side 199 is open for the entire length of thisconveyor as shown in Figs. 9 and 10. In these figures the disintegratingand conveying machine is shown disintegrating the mass b of shot-downcoal and conveying it into the open side 199 of the conveyor. Thereciprocating blades 173 in this part of the conveyor forward the loosecoal delivered thereto from the disintegrating and conveying machinesinto the main conveyor, which in turn conveys it into the entry, whereit is delivered linto mine cars, or into another conveyor or otherwiseconveniently and properly disposed of.

Referring now to the actuating Vmeans for reciprocating the pusherblades 17 3 and their connecting mechanisms, including the reciprocatingbars 17 8, cables 201 and 202 are provided, which are pulled alternatelyin one direction and then in the other by any suitable mechanism, suchas that shown in my copending application Serial No. 512,778, filedNovember 4, 1921, vpatented March 17, 1925,No. 1,529,875. The cable 201,as shown, runs around a sheave 203 and around a sheave 204, and isfastened at 205 to the bar 17 8 of the cross conveyor.

Cable 202 is fastened at 206 to the bar 178 of the main orlongitudinally-disposed conveyor. Another cable 208 is fastened at 209to the bar 178 of the loi'igitudinally-disposedV conveyor, and passesaround a sheave 210 and around a sheave 211, and is fastened at 212 tothe bar 178 of the cross-conveyor. Cable 202 thus draws the pusherblades 173 of the main or longitudinallydisposed conveyor toward themouth-of the room, that is, downwardly in Fig. 9, and draws the pusherblades 173 of the cross-conveyor to the left in Fig. 9. Cable 201. drawsthe blades 173 of the inain or longitudinally-disposed conveyor inwardlytowards the face of the room, that is upwardly in Fig. 9, and draws thepusher blades 173 of the cross conveyor toward the right in Fig. 9.

The cable 208 causesthe two conveyors to move together, by transmittingthe pull of the respective actuating cables 201 and 202 from oneVconveyor to the other. The sheaves are disposed so that the pusherblades of the two conveyors may cross each others path sufriindicated byt, and several positions of the disintegrating and conveying mechanismcompletely disintegrating and conveying it away are diagrammaticallyindicated in the ligure.

By the combined mechanism just described the shot-down coal, whichusually is only partly disintegrated, is rapidly and easily completelydisintegrated without being unnecessarily pulverized or broken up, andis conveyed away without manual handling of any kind, and avoiding theusual tedious difficult and costly labor of completely disintegrating`the material.

In Fig. 14, means are shown whereby the disintegrating and conveyingmachine is impelled forwardly to its work by a Winding action in placeof, or in addition to, its tractive efforts. In the embodied fornithereof, jacks 222 are set up, and cablesQQ are anchored thereto and arefastened to the tractor wheels 5 and 6 in a suitable manner, as by ahook 224 passing into openingsin the tractor wheels, the cables thenbeing wound about the tractor wheels like drums.

In Fig. 15 a transverse section is shown of the disintegrating andconveying machine without the bed plate 1 being extended so as toconstitute a platform alongwhich the dise integrated material isconveyed to delivery. As embodied, theV arms 114, propelled by the chainsweep along the floor in front of the machine and push the materialalong the floor in the same manner as has been described in connectionwith the machine wherein the Y yplate or bed extends beneath the arm. Y

It will be clear that the machine could be employed merely for conveyingthe material without first disintegrating it, and the de.- scription andclaims will be so understood. This, however, would be merely utilizingthe machine only to a part of its capacity or capa: bility. In suchcase, the arms 114 would not necessarily extend beyond the front edge ofthe bed plate 1.

The invention in its broader aspects is not limited to the specificmechanisms shown .and described but departures may be made therefromwithin the scope of the accompanying claims without departing from theprinciples of the invention and'without sacrificing its chiefadvantages. f Y

What I claim iss- 1. A material handling mechanism including incombination a conveyor positioned on the mine floor and having an openside extending across the face of a mine' room and receiving the coalclose to the mine floor, and a material yconveying machine travelingalong between the conveyor and the room face and conveying dislodgedmaterial along the mine floor .and discharging it directly into theconveyor continuously along the length of its open side.

2. A material handling mechanism including in combination a conveyorresting on the mine floor and having an open side extending across theface of a mine room for receiving coal substantially at the level of themine door, anda material disintegrating and conveying machine travelingalongside the open side of the conveyor, said machine havinghorizontally extending scraper elements traveling in a horizontalendless path, for disintegrating the material and thereafter pushing itlaterally and discharging it directly onto said conveyor. 3. A materialhandling mechanism including in combination a cross conveyor resting onthe mine iloor and having an open side extending across the face of amine room and receiving the coal close to the mine floor, a materialconveying machine traveling along between the conveyor and the room facefor conveying dislodged material in a horizontal path and discharging itdirectly into the conveyor continuously along the length of its openside, and a main conveyor extending along the room and receiving thematerial from said cross conveyor and conveying it to the entry.

4. In a machine of the character described, rotatable driving andsupporting elements, a bed plate carried by said elements and underslungtherefrom so as to be below the axes of the driving and supportingelements, and material disintegrating and conveying members travelingacross the front of the machine for breaking up and conveying awaymaterial in front thereof and-discharging it immediatelyY at thefront-and side of the machine.

5. In a machine of the character described. rotatable driving andsupporting elements, a bed plate at'the frontof the machine, supportedby and underslung from said elements so as yto be below the axes of saidelements, and substantially at the floor level, and V.materialdisintegrating and conveying members traveling on the Y bed plate, forbreaking up and carrying away material in front of the machine anddischarging it immediately at the front and side of the Inachine.

6. In amachine of the character described, rotatable ydriving andsupporting elements, means for driving said rotating elements togetherorA independently, a bed plate carried by said elements and underslungtherefrom so as to be below the axes of the driving and supportingelements, and material disintegrating and conveying members travelingacross the front ofthe machine for breaking up and conveying awaymaterial in front thereof discharging it immediately at the front andside of the machine.

7. In a machine of the character described, a bed plate, rotatabledriving and supporting elements, mounted within the outer edges of thebed plate so that the bed plateextends to t-he front and rear of saidrotatable elements, the bed plate being underslung from said rotatableelements so as to lie below the axes of said elements, and materialconveying and disintegrating members traveling on the bed plate, forbreaking up and carrying away material in front of the machine, saidmembers being foldable to inactive position during part of their travel.v

8. A material handling mechanism comprising in combination a bed plateextending across the front of the machine, material disintegrating andconveying elements movable successively across the front of the machine,and selectively controlled power driven means for forcing either end ofthe front edge of the bed plate into the material.

9. A material handling mechanism comprising in combination a bed plateextending across the front of the machine, material disintegrating andconveying elements movable across the front of the machine and aroundthe machine in an endless path, said elements being folded to inactiveposition during part of the travel, and power driven means for forcingthe front edge of the bed plate bodily into the mass of material, or forforcing either end of the front edge into the material.

10. Aniaterial handling mechanism comrising in combination a low, iiatframe, traction devices at either side of the frame, means for operatingthe traction devices, a series of horizontally extending arms travelingaround the frame in a substantially horizontal plane and in an endlesspath and projecting forwardly, substantially horizontally and close tothe floor from the front of the machine on the front reach of the path,and arranged to discharge the material at one side of the frameimmediately at the end ofthe front reach and at the side of the machine.

11. A material handling mechanism comprising in combination a low, flatframe, traction devices at either side of the frame, means for operatingthe traction devices, independently or together, a series ofhorizontally extending arms traveling in a substantially horizontalplane around the frame in an endless path projecting forwardly from thefront of the machine and close to the floor, arranged to discharge thematerial at one side of the frame.

12. A machine for disintegrating and conveying material, including incombination means including a series of spaced apart, parallely arrangedarms constituting the sole disintegrating and conveying devices, thearms extending forwardly from the machine, in a substantially horizontalplane and close to the floor and traveling across the front of themachine, the entire path of travel of the arms being substantially in asingle plane, and means for traveling the arms, said machine comprisinga low frame of relatively great width and little length and adapted tocontain the driving means for the arms and traction devices.

13. A machine for disintegrating and conveying material, including incombination, the machine being low and relatively very wide across andvery short from front to rear, an endless carrier traveling in an oblongpath on the machine, a series of spaced apart arms attached Vto thecarrier and adapted to extend forwardly close to the floor, and in asubstantially horizontal plane from the front of the machine todisintegrate the material and convey it across the front of the machineand discharge it at the side, means for driving the carrier, and meansfor traveling the machine forwardly, including traction devices ateither side of the machine independently operable to steer the machine.

ll. A low automotive machine for di in tegrating and conveying awaypreviously dislodged material including in con aina general framerelatively short from fro t rear and relatively very wide from it side,a flexible carrier traveling in an approximately oblong path with thelong direction across the machine, a series of spaced apartdisintegrating and conveying arms fixed to the carrier and extending ina substanti llY horizontal plane from the front of the machine and closeto the floor on the 'front reach of the carrier, means for driving thecarrier and means for traveling the machine forwardly.

l5. A low automotive machine for disintegrating and'conveying awayprevious lodged material including in combinat ui a general framerelatively short from front rear and relatively very wine Vfrom sideside, a exible carrier traveling in an approximately oblong path withthe long direction across the machine, a series of spaced apartdisintegrating and conveying a fixed to the carrierV and extending instantially horizontal plane from the the machine and close to the licoron the fron reach of the carrier, means for dri' carrier, and means fortraveling the m forwardly including a traction device at either side ofthe machine and con..VV 'f whereby the traction devices may beindependently driven to steer the machine.

16. A material disintegrating and conveying machine including incombinationa low,

iin.'

frame el relatively great breadth and ttle lengtli,means tor travelingthe machine a direction transverse te the greater dimension, andindependently operable disintegrating and conveying means mounted totravel in a substantially horizontal plane around said trame.

Al?. A material disintegrating and conveying machine including incombination a low, main frame et relatively great breadth and littlelength, means for traveling the machine in a direction transverse to thegreater dimension, and a series of successively operating disintegratingand conveying devices extending substantially horizontally and travelingin a substantially horizontal plane in a direction parallel to saidgreater dimension.

18. A material disintegrating and conveying machine including incombination a low, main trame of relatively great breadth and littlelength, and disintegrating and conveying means acting on the materialthrough a substantially horizontal path substantially equal in length tosaid greater dimension.

19. A material disintegrating and conveying machine including incombination a low, main frame of relatively great breadth and littlelength, and disintegrating and conveying means acting on the materialthrough a substantially horizontal path close to the floor andsubstantially equal in length and parallel to said greater dimension.

Y2O. A mechanism for removing shot down material including incombination an automotive machine having low compact frame of relativelygreat breadth and relatively small length, means tor advancing themachine broadside into a pile of shot down material. a series oftravelling disintegrating and conveying devices mounted to travel alongthe front of the machine frame, and means :tor moving said devices intothe pile of material and broadside of the machine to scrape material ina straight line to discharge.

2l. A mechanism tor removing shot down material including in combinationan automotive machine having a low compact frame or relatively greatbreadth and relatively small length, means for advancing the may chinebroadside into a pile ot' shot down material and means tor conveyingmaterial in a straight horizontal direction broadside ot machinesubstantially perpendicularly to the direction ot conveyance otl thedisintegrated material and means for selectively varying the speed ofdifferent parts ot the travelling mechanism to steer the machine overthe mine floor to advancel the machine horizontally in any givendirection.

23. A disintegrating and conveying machine t'or removing shot-downmaterial at a mine lace and particularly adapted for use inlow-seam-mines,including in combination a low compact iframe containingdriving and travelling mechanism, Ya series of material disin'tegratingand conveying devices adapted to travel along the trame and just abovethe mine floor for disintegrating material and scraping it along themine floor` across the iront of the frame, and means for travelling themachine substantially perpendicularly to the direction of conveyance ofthe disintegrated material, said disintegrating and conveying devicesbeing adapted to deliver the material at one side of the machine to aconveyor at the same level.

2A. A disintegrating and conveying machine for removing shot-downmaterial at a mine tace and particularly adapted for use inlow-seam-mines, including in combination a low compact frame ofrelatively great breadth and little length containing driving andtravelling devices, a series of material disintegrating and conveyingclaws adapted to travel across the relatively wide :tront edge ot' saidframe, and means for advancing the trent edge of the frame into a pileoit' material whereby the claws project into and underly the materialand operate upon a rel tively wide face of the pile to scrape thematerial laterally as the machine advances.

25. A disintegrating and conveying machine for removing shot-downmaterial at a mine face and particularly adapted for use inlow-seam-mines, including in combination a low compact frame ofrelatively great breadth and little length containing driving andtravelling devices, a series of material disintegratingV and conveyingclaws adapted to travel across the relatively wide front edge of theframe into a pile of material whereby the claws project intoY andunderly the material and operate upon a relatively wide face of thepile, said claws being adapted to deliver the material substantially atthe level of the mine floor. A

26. A disintegrating and conveying machine for removing shot-downmaterial at a mine face andV particularly adapted for use inlcw-seam-mines, including in' combination a low compact frame ofrelatively great breadth and little length containing driving andtravelling devices, a series of material disintegrating and conveyingclaws adapted to travel across the relatively wide front edge of saidframe, and means for advancing the front edge of the frame into a `pileof material whereby the claws project into and underly the material andoperate upon a relatively Wide face of the pile and means for steeringand controlling the operation of the 5 machine from a distant station.

27. A mechanism for removing shot-down material at a mine face includingin combination a low, compact frame of relatively great breadth andlittle length, means for 19 progressing the Wide front of the machineinto a pile of shot-down material, materialdisintegrat-ing and conveyingmeans comprising a plurality of arms extending substantiallyhorizontally from the front of the ma- 5 chine and lying close to themine floor, and means for moving said arms across the front of themachine to disintegrate material in the path of advance of the machineand to scrape said material across the mine floor to dis- 20 chargelaterally of the advancing machine.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification,

KENNETH DAVIS.

